IP Library › Granted Patent US 12687948
Granted Patent B2
US 12687948 · App. 19/067,403 · Granted Jul 21, 2026

Techniques for reducing baseline capacitance in a mutual capacitance touch sensor panel

Inventors: Kohei Azumi (Los Gatos, CA); Sagar R. Vaze (Santa Clara, CA); Saurabh Singh (Austin, TX)
Assignee: Apple Inc.
G06F3/04164G06F3/0443G06F2203/04111H10H29/34
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12687948
App. No.
19/067,403
Granted
Jul 21, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

In some examples, a touch sensor panel includes a plurality of touch electrodes in a first layer including a plurality of first drive electrodes along a first axis, a plurality of second drive electrodes along the first axis, and a plurality of sense electrodes formed of sense electrode segments along a second axis. The touch sensor panel includes a plurality of bridges in a second layer. Optionally the plurality of bridges includes one or more portions along the second axis configured to electrically connect the sense electrode segments to form the plurality of sense electrodes, and includes one or more portions along the first axis disposed under the plurality of second drive electrodes.

Claims (132)

1 . A touch sensor panel comprising:

a plurality of touch electrodes in a first layer, including:

a plurality of first drive electrodes along a first axis,

a plurality of second drive electrodes along the first axis, and

a plurality of sense electrodes formed of sense electrode segments along a second axis, different from the first axis; and

a plurality of bridges in a second layer, different from the first layer, the plurality of bridges including:

one or more portions along the second axis configured to electrically connect the sense electrode segments to form the plurality of sense electrodes, and

one or more portions along the first axis disposed under the plurality of second drive electrodes.

2 . The touch sensor panel of claim 1 , wherein:

a first touch node of the touch sensor panel includes:

a first drive electrode of the plurality of first drive electrodes,

a second drive electrode of the plurality of second drive electrodes, and

a first sense electrode of the plurality of sense electrodes;

the first drive electrode is configured to be driven with a first stimulation signal forming a first mutual capacitance between the first drive electrode and the first sense electrode;

the second drive electrode is configured to be driven with a second stimulation signal having an opposite phase of the first stimulation signal and forming a second mutual capacitance between the second drive electrode and the first sense electrode; and

a baseline mutual capacitance for the first touch node is at least the first mutual capacitance reduced by the second mutual capacitance.

3 . The touch sensor panel of claim 2 , wherein:

the first touch node of the touch sensor panel includes a first bridge of the plurality of bridges,

the first bridge includes:

a first portion of the one or more portions along the second axis that is configured to touch two sense electrode segments of the sense electrode segments that form the plurality of sense electrodes, including the first sense electrode;

a first portion of the one or more portions along the first axis disposed under the second drive electrode;

a third mutual capacitance is formed between the second drive electrode and the first portion of the one or more portions along the first axis disposed under the second drive electrode; and

the baseline mutual capacitance for the first touch node is at least the first mutual capacitance reduced by both the second mutual capacitance and the third mutual capacitance.

4 . The touch sensor panel of claim 3 , wherein a width of the second drive electrode is different from a width of the first portion of the one or more portions along the first axis disposed under the second drive electrode.

5 . The touch sensor panel of claim 3 , wherein a length of the first portion of the one or more portions along the first axis disposed under the second drive electrode is greater than a width of the first sense electrode along the first axis.

6 . The touch sensor panel of claim 3 , wherein:

the first touch node also includes:

a third drive electrode of the plurality of first drive electrodes; and

a fourth drive electrode of the plurality of second drive electrodes; and

the first bridge of the first touch node also includes:

a second portion of the one or more portions along the second axis, different from the first portion of the one or more portions along the second axis, that is configured to touch the two sense electrode segments of the sense electrode segments that form the plurality of sense electrodes, including the first sense electrode;

a second portion of the one or more portions along the first axis, different from the first portion of the one or more portions along the first axis, disposed under the fourth drive electrode;

the first mutual capacitance of the first touch node is a sum of:

the mutual capacitance formed between the first drive electrode and the first sense electrode;

a mutual capacitance formed between the third drive electrode and the first sense electrode;

the second mutual capacitance of the first touch node is a sum of:

the mutual capacitance formed between the second drive electrode and the first sense electrode; and

a mutual capacitance formed between the fourth drive electrode and the first sense electrode; and

the third mutual capacitance of the first touch node is a sum of:

the mutual capacitance formed between the second drive electrode and the first portion of the one or more portions along the first axis disposed under the second drive electrode; and

a mutual capacitance formed between the fourth drive electrode and the second portion of the one or more portions along the second axis disposed under the fourth drive electrode.

7 . The touch sensor panel of claim 6 , wherein the baseline mutual capacitance for the first touch node is the first mutual capacitance of the first touch node reduced by both the second mutual capacitance and the third mutual capacitance.

8 . A touch-sensitive device comprising:

an energy storage device;

communication circuitry;

a touch controller; and

a touch sensor panel comprising:

a plurality of touch electrodes in a first layer, including:

a plurality of first drive electrodes along a first axis,

a plurality of second drive electrodes along the first axis, and

a plurality of sense electrodes formed of sense electrode segments along a second axis, different from the first axis; and

a plurality of bridges in a second layer, different from the first layer, the plurality of bridges including:

one or more portions along the second axis configured to electrically connect the sense electrode segments to form the plurality of sense electrodes, and

one or more portions along the first axis disposed under the plurality of second drive electrodes.

9 . The touch-sensitive device of claim 8 , wherein:

the touch sensor panel includes a first touch node of the touch sensor panel;

the first touch node includes:

a first drive electrode of the plurality of first drive electrodes,

a second drive electrode of the plurality of second drive electrodes, and

a first sense electrode of the plurality of sense electrodes;

the first drive electrode is configured to be driven with a first stimulation signal forming a first mutual capacitance between the first drive electrode and the first sense electrode;

the second drive electrode is configured to be driven with a second stimulation signal having an opposite phase of the first stimulation signal and forming a second mutual capacitance between the second drive electrode and the first sense electrode; and

a baseline mutual capacitance for the first touch node is at least the first mutual capacitance reduced by the second mutual capacitance.

10 . The touch-sensitive device of claim 9 , wherein:

the first touch node of the touch sensor panel includes a first bridge of the plurality of bridges;

the first bridge includes:

a first portion of the one or more portions along the second axis that is configured to touch two sense electrode segments of the sense electrode segments that form the plurality of sense electrodes, including the first sense electrode;

a first portion of the one or more portions along the first axis disposed under the second drive electrode;

a third mutual capacitance is formed between the second drive electrode and the first portion of the one or more portions along the first axis disposed under the second drive electrode; and

the baseline mutual capacitance for the first touch node is at least the first mutual capacitance reduced by both the second mutual capacitance and the third mutual capacitance.

11 . The touch-sensitive device of claim 10 , wherein a width of the second drive electrode is different from a width of the first portion of the one or more portions along the first axis disposed under the second drive electrode.

12 . The touch-sensitive device of claim 10 , wherein a length of the first portion of the one or more portions along the first axis disposed under the second drive electrode is greater than a width of the first sense electrode along the first axis.

13 . The touch-sensitive device of claim 10 , wherein:

the first touch node also includes:

a third drive electrode of the plurality of first drive electrodes; and

a fourth drive electrode of the plurality of second drive electrodes; and

the first bridge of the first touch node also includes:

a second portion of the one or more portions along the second axis, different from the first portion of the one or more portions along the second axis, that is configured to touch the two sense electrode segments of the sense electrode segments that form the plurality of sense electrodes, including the first sense electrode;

a second portion of the one or more portions along the first axis, different from the first portion of the one or more portions along the first axis, disposed under the fourth drive electrode;

the first mutual capacitance of the first touch node is a sum of:

the mutual capacitance formed between the first drive electrode and the first sense electrode;

a mutual capacitance formed between the third drive electrode and the first sense electrode;

the second mutual capacitance of the first touch node is a sum of:

the mutual capacitance formed between the second drive electrode and the first sense electrode; and

a mutual capacitance formed between the fourth drive electrode and the first sense electrode; and

the third mutual capacitance of the first touch node is a sum of:

the mutual capacitance formed between the second drive electrode and the first portion of the one or more portions along the first axis disposed under the second drive electrode; and

a mutual capacitance formed between the fourth drive electrode and the second portion of the one or more portions along the second axis disposed under the fourth drive electrode.

14 . The touch-sensitive device of claim 13 , wherein the baseline mutual capacitance for the first touch node is the first mutual capacitance of the first touch node reduced by both the second mutual capacitance and the third mutual capacitance.

15 . The touch-sensitive device of claim 14 , comprising a touch screen that comprises a display that has an active area, wherein the touch sensor panel is formed over the active area of the display.

16 . A touch screen comprising:

a display having an active area; and

a touch sensor panel formed over the active area of the display, wherein the touch sensor panel comprises:

a plurality of touch electrodes in a first layer, including:

a plurality of first drive electrodes along a first axis,

a plurality of second drive electrodes along the first axis, and

a plurality of sense electrodes formed of sense electrode segments along a second axis, different from the first axis; and

a plurality of bridges in a second layer, different from the first layer, the plurality of bridges including:

one or more portions along the second axis configured to electrically connect the sense electrode segments to form the plurality of sense electrodes, and

one or more portions along the first axis disposed under the plurality of second drive electrodes.

17 . The touch screen of claim 16 , wherein:

a first touch node of the touch sensor panel includes:

a first drive electrode of the plurality of first drive electrodes,

a second drive electrode of the plurality of second drive electrodes, and

a first sense electrode of the plurality of sense electrodes;

the first drive electrode is configured to be driven with a first stimulation signal forming a first mutual capacitance between the first drive electrode and the first sense electrode;

the second drive electrode is configured to be driven with a second stimulation signal having an opposite phase of the first stimulation signal and forming a second mutual capacitance between the second drive electrode and the first sense electrode; and

a baseline mutual capacitance for the first touch node is at least the first mutual capacitance reduced by the second mutual capacitance.

18 . The touch screen of claim 17 , wherein:

the first touch node of the touch sensor panel includes a first bridge of the plurality of bridges,

the first bridge includes:

a first portion of the one or more portions along the second axis that is configured to touch two sense electrode segments of the sense electrode segments that form the plurality of sense electrodes, including the first sense electrode;

a first portion of the one or more portions along the first axis disposed under the second drive electrode;

a third mutual capacitance is formed between the second drive electrode and the first portion of the one or more portions along the first axis disposed under the second drive electrode; and

the baseline mutual capacitance for the first touch node is at least the first mutual capacitance reduced by both the second mutual capacitance and the third mutual capacitance.

19 . The touch screen of claim 18 , wherein:

the first touch node also includes:

a third drive electrode of the plurality of first drive electrodes; and

a fourth drive electrode of the plurality of second drive electrodes; and

the first bridge of the first touch node also includes:

a second portion of the one or more portions along the second axis, different from the first portion of the one or more portions along the second axis, that is configured to touch the two sense electrode segments of the sense electrode segments that form the plurality of sense electrodes, including the first sense electrode;

a second portion of the one or more portions along the first axis, different from the first portion of the one or more portions along the first axis, disposed under the fourth drive electrode;

the first mutual capacitance of the first touch node is a sum of:

the mutual capacitance formed between the first drive electrode and the first sense electrode;

a mutual capacitance formed between the third drive electrode and the first sense electrode;

the second mutual capacitance of the first touch node is a sum of:

the mutual capacitance formed between the second drive electrode and the first sense electrode; and

a mutual capacitance formed between the fourth drive electrode and the first sense electrode; and

the third mutual capacitance of the first touch node is a sum of:

the mutual capacitance formed between the second drive electrode and the first portion of the one or more portions along the first axis disposed under the second drive electrode; and

a mutual capacitance formed between the fourth drive electrode and the second portion of the one or more portions along the second axis disposed under the fourth drive electrode.

20 . The touch screen of claim 19 , wherein the baseline mutual capacitance for the first touch node is the first mutual capacitance of the first touch node reduced by both the second mutual capacitance and the third mutual capacitance.